http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/scotus-same-sex-0626-s5.jpgThe 5-4 ruling was consistent with the court's long progression toward the equal right of each individual in the face of oppression and discrimination by the majority. In Wisconsin, progressive political leaders were quick to respond.

STOUGHTON, WI - America's only civil war birthed Decoration Day honoring dead soldiers of the Civil War. Today we call it Memorial Day honoring the dead soldiers of all America's wars.

Wars do not work as an effort to create lasting peace, economic development and a better life for all.

The American Revolutionary War stands out as an example of a war that worked - if you were white. It you were Black or Native American, that war did not help you.

We need to try negotiations and peace for a change. The present wars are driving America into bankruptcy and our soldiers to despair. Our volunteer military is broken. We are losing everywhere. The CIA has never met a situation it can not make worse.

For most of the 70 years since the USA lead the establishment of the United Nations, American politicians have undercut the UN's efforts to help create peace rather than war.

Today America is in so many wars and fermenting so many conflicts that the average American cannot even remember them all. The world is becoming more and more unstable. The big boys have nuclear weapons ready to go off in seconds.

Memorial Day should be changed. We need to honor and regret all the millions of soldiers and the many MORE millions of civilians who have been and are being killed by fighting and bombing.

Our history since 1900 is drenched with the blood of the dead and wounded. Tens of millions more were/are refugees with lives ruined.

Yet we go on repeating the same mistakes over and over. Are we dumb? Or are the leaders looking at us but listening to all the rich and powerful who make money on war?

You know the answer.

We must start putting our money and political efforts into strengthening the United Nations. It is the only hope.

America cannot build an empire. All empires fail. America's effort at creating an empire for capitalism across the world is killing us at home and those across the world.

We must work for cooperation rather than competition. We must work for peace rather than death.

If the dead could speak, they may look at Americans and say,

"With all your resources and smarts you can do much better than encouraging death and destruction.

You have the capabilities to help lead and support the way to a better world.

But all you do is bomb, destroy and talk tough like teenage gangsters.

Turn off the TV, throw the bums out of office before it is too late.

Or you too will end up like me - only watching and crying!"

Peace!

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Buzz Davis of Stoughton is a member of Veterans for Peace, was trained as an infantry officer during the Vietnam War and served in S. Korea in 1969-70.

MADISON - Senator Ron Johnson sank his rhetoric to a new low over the weekend by admitting he trusts the Ayatollah of Iran more than President Barack Obama.

Now, Johnson is desperately trying to shirk responsibility for a comment wholly unfit for a senator with oversight of our national security. This latest misstep comes a week after he declined an opportunity to correct supporters who call President Obama a "Muslim terrorist."

"After these comments it's impossible for Wisconsin to trust Ron Johnson on matters of foreign policy and national security," Democratic Party of Wisconsin Communications Director Melissa Baldauff said Wednesday. "Johnson's only priority is waging bitter partisan fights no matter the consequences, even on issues of national security that require bipartisan agreement."

This isn't Johnson's first stumble involving Iran's Ayatollah. In March, the New York Times called a letter from Johnson and other senators sent to the Ayatollah of Iran "idiocy." The unprecedented letter was widely criticized as a hyper-partisan attempt to undermine President Obama.